Model requirements
Model requirements are the height, age and measurement ranges that agencies and clients use when they decide who can work in which part of the business. They are strict for fashion and runway work and much looser elsewhere. Agencies and clients do not judge beauty in general: they judge whether a particular look will sell a client's product.
Knowing the requirements saves time and money. More people can model than you might think, but not everyone can model on a runway, and commercial, curve, petite, mature and parts models are measured against different expectations. The first step is the same for all of them and costs nothing: plain photos without make-up, accurate measurements and an application to a legitimate agency.
Guides and tools on this topic
Rubrics that cover it
How the requirements work in practice
Height and measurements matter most in fashion and on the runway, where the requirements are strict. Outside fashion the picture changes. Commercial, curve, petite, mature and parts modeling each have their own expectations, and height plays almost no role in several of them.
Age works in a similar way. Children model from an early age, but only through an agency and with parents. Adult fashion shows and shoots use models aged 16 and over. What cannot be measured counts as well: a look the client believes in, and a strong personality, because a model often hears that they are not the right look.
What to do and what to avoid
Be honest about your numbers. Accurate measurements go into the application and later onto the composite card, which a model leaves with clients and sends to agencies, so they have to be true.
Do not pay to get in. Applying to an agency and attending an open call are free, and a legitimate agency earns from your bookings. Training is something you may choose, but it cannot be a condition of joining. Expect irregular work as well: pay varies enormously, rejection at castings is routine, and preparation helps as much as looks.
All stories on this topic (2)
Mentioned together
Frequently asked
01How tall do you have to be to be a model?
Female fashion models are usually 172–181 cm and male models 183–190 cm. Commercial, petite, curve and parts models have almost no height requirement.
02How old do you have to be to become a model?
Children model from an early age, but only through an agency and with parents. Fashion agencies usually scout new faces aged 15–21.
03Is 25 too old to start modeling?
Often too old for the runway, but not for commercial, advertising or mature modeling.
04Do you have to pay to become a model?
No. Applying to an agency and attending an open call are free, and a legitimate agency earns from your bookings.
05Do you need professional photos to apply?
No. Simple digitals in daylight, without make-up or filters, are enough. A professional book is built with the agency.